Tag Archives: Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc
LeBlanc and Garneau announce plans for protecting North Atlantic right whales
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Transport Canada’s Marc Garneau will announce plans this morning for protecting North Atlantic right whales.,, Earlier this year, LeBlanc announced new measures for the operation of the snow crab fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect the North Atlantic right whale from entanglement. The changes include reducing the amount of fishing rope floating on the surface and mandatory reporting of all lost gear. The government also said it will most likely impose speed restrictions for vessels again this year, when the whales return to the gulf. >click to read<09:58
Ryan Cleary calls for federal investigation over rumours and allegations
Two fishermen in Cartwright are making accusations of backdoor dealings and foul play around a Labrador committee of harvesters. Curtis Heard says he’s spent the past two years trying to get answers from a shrimp allocation committee that he claims is breaking the rules to satisfy its own ends. “This committee operates with no oversight,” said Heard. “They’re making criteria to treat themselves, and if they don’t meet that criteria they’ll still walk through it.” In 2003, as a way to offset the impact of declines in crab and cod stocks, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) established an allocation of northern shrimp for crab and cod harvesters from Cartwright to L’Anse au Clair. click here to read the story 14:43
Federal fisheries minister called meeting with experts in Moncton to find way to protect right whales
The federal government will consider using the $400 million Atlantic Fisheries Fund and an innovation prize to develop new fishing gear or technology to help protect North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.,,, LeBlanc is discussing solutions with representatives from the fishing and marine transport industries, First Nations leaders from Eastern Canada, scientists and other officials.,,, LeBlanc said some options that could be considered include a reduction or modification of fishing gear, reducing the number of fishing boats on the water and starting the fishing season earlier. click here to read the story 15:48
Ottawa to order ships to give right whales a 100-metre buffer zone in Gulf – click here to read the story
Dominic LeBlanc pledges to ‘enshrine the owner-operator and fleet separation law’
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc told the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters’ Federation he plans to make amendments to the Fisheries Act that will “enshrine the owner-operator and fleet separation law.” “This would mean that the minister would be able to create regulation under law to prohibit a fisherman from using a licence to enter a controlling agreement or other arrangements that are contrary to social and economic objectives that are beyond the spirit and intent of the owner-operator and fleet separation policies,” LeBlanc said. LeBlanc made the announcement during his keynote address at the annual Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters’ Federation meeting held in Chester, N.S., Tuesday. click here to read the story 08:21
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Canada has a right to scientific analysis of Corexit
Canada’s fisheries minister is pushing back against a U.S. company that is refusing to let Canadian researchers test its oil spill dispersant. “We obviously have a huge concern about a potential corporate interest that appears to not want to have robust, thoughtful, independent scientific analysis of their product,” said Dominic LeBlanc. LeBlanc, speaking in Halifax, was talking about the months-long impasse over his department’s attempt to test Corexit 9580, a surface-washing agent used to clean beaches in oil spills. The product, along with Corexit 9500 — an open-water oil dispersant — were approved for use in Canada last year on a case-by-case basis if authorities determine there is a net environmental benefit. Read the rest here 09:57
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc vows fight as European Union reviews impact of American lobster
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the Canadian and American governments will “vigorously” try to convince the European Union that the American lobster does not pose a threat. LeBlanc vowed to fight after an arm of the European Union announced Tuesday that there’s enough scientific evidence to move forward with a review of Sweden’s request to declare the American lobster an invasive species. “The analysis of the scientific evidence is far from certain from our perspective. We believe we have equally compelling, if not more compelling, scientific evidence to say that it is not an invasive species whatsoever,” LeBlanc said Tuesday. Read the rest here 17:44
Minister defends LIFO decision, northern shrimp stocks under pressure linked to rebounding cod stock
The federal fisheries minister stands by his recent decision to scrap the Last In, First Out policy and reduce the northern shrimp quota, while also indicating some news is on the way concerning northern cod. Speaking with reporters in Bay de Verde Monday following an announcement about funding for small craft harbours, Dominic LeBlanc said he worked with the information he had and consulted with federal and provincial politicians before electing to scrap LIFO. The decision fell in line with the recommendation of an advisory panel that consulted with the public and presented a report to the minister. Later when asked by The Compass about the potential return of a groundfish harvest, LeBlanc acknowledged he has received some advice suggesting areas where northern shrimp stocks are under pressure can be linked to a rebounding cod stock. Read the rest here 10:41
